Dean T. Mckenzie

Dean Taylor McKenzie was born Nov. 25, 1927, at Fairbury, Nebraska, the son of Earl Cranston McKenzie and Hazel Fern Taylor McKenzie. He died June 18, 2012 at Beatrice Manor in Beatrice, Nebraska, at the age of 84. He grew up in Fairbury and attended public school there, graduating with the Class of 1948. He lived his entire life in Fairbury.

On Oct. 27, 1956, he married Joan Thaller of Reynolds at the United Methodist Church in Fairbury. The couple made their home in Fairbury. They lived in the same home for 39 1/2 years before moving to an apartment on November 12, 2003.

Two children, Connie Sue and Michael Dean, blessed the couple’s home.

Dean worked on the railroad during the summers and at several service stations, including 14 years at the Farmers Union Co-op Oil Association of Fairbury and Reynolds. Later he began working for the Fairbury Public Schools at West Ward as custodian. In 1989 he was transferred to Central School from where he retired May 31, 1992.

He was baptized at First Christian Church in Fairbury on March 24, 1940. He remained a member of the church where he served in many capacities. Even through the rough times with his dialysis and Parkinson’s he usually made it to church on Sunday morning, unless he was in a nursing home. He was an Elder Emeritus at the time of his death.

Dean was a dialysis patient. He started on home dialysis September 13, 2001, and then switched to Hemodialysis in April 2002 making three trips per week to the dialysis center in Beatrice with exception of the times he was in nursing homes.

Preceding him in death were his parents; brothers, Donald Eugene in 1981; sister, Fern Harbison in 2010; brother, Richard (Dick) in 2011 and Earl in infancy; and great-granddaughter, Kendra Leah Rose Anderson.

Survivors include his wife, Joan; daughter, Connie Sue McKenzie , son, Michael Dean McKenzie, grandson, Joseph Robert Anderson and fiance, Sara Prelesnik all of South Milwaukee, WI, and grandson, Dustin Michael McKenzie of Mt. Jackson, VA; great-grandson, Ian Joseph Anderson of South Milwaukee; sister, Doris Creighton of Lenexa, KS; sister-in-law, Elizabeth McKenzie of Boulder, CO; nieces and nephews.

Celebration of life services will be held on Thursday, June 21, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at the First Christian Church in Fairbury with Pastor Ron Johnson officiating. The family will greet friends on Wednesday from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home with the casket being open.